KATHMANDU, May 11:Madan Pahari was eagerly waiting for the moment when the main priest, who is called pakaju in Newari, would throw coconuts from the chariot of Rato Machhindranath on Sunday. The father of three children–two daughters and a son–Pahari was there to catch the coconut thrown by the priest as it is believed that the one who catches the fruit would be blessed with a son. Continue reading
KATHMANDU: People across the country are observing ‘Mata Tirtha Aunsi’ or Mother’s Day on Tuesday by offering different delicacies and gifts to their mothers.
According to Hindu tradition, the festival is celebrated on the new moon that falls in the month of Baisakh as per the lunar calendar.
On the occasion, sons and daughters bath early in the morning and offer gifts to their mothers. Continue reading
KATHMANDU: Jujubhai Shrestha of Bode, Bhaktapur, pierced his tongue for the sixth consecutive year as part of the nine-day Bisket Jatra celebrations today.
The 33-year-old has been piercing his tongue for the last six years to give continuity to the centuries-old tradition to mark the new Bikram Era. Before the ritual of tongue piercing with a spike dipped in mustard oil, a blacksmith offers special prayers to the deities.
With the spike lodged in his tongue, the Bhaktapur youth performed puja in all local temples before taking the spike out in front of the Pancho Ganesh temple. Continue reading
KATHMANDU, April 7:On a normal day, Durbar Marga, Jamal and the Ratnapark area rattle with the jarring sound of car horns. However, on Monday evening, the atmosphere was different and very festive.
Vehicles were replaced by hundreds of people arriving from across the Valley and the air vibrated with the traditional sounds of Newari music.
KATHMANDU: Holi, the festival of colours, officially started yesterday with the installation of a bamboo pole decorated with colourful clothes, on the premises of Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu.
The installation of Chir symbolises the tree on which Lord Krishna is said to have hung milkmaids’ clothes while they were bathing in the Jamuna River in northern India.
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KATHMANDU:Sonam Lhosar, a greatest festival of the Tamang people is being observed across the nation by organising various programmes and exchanging greetings with each other on Friday.
The festival, which is the 2848th year of the Tamang community under the Tibetan lunar calender, is celebrated on the first day of new moon. The indigenous people will bid farewell to the Snake Year and welcome the Year of the Horse. Continue reading
KATHMANDU: The Gurung community is observing Tamu Lhosar, its new year, by exchanging greetings and organising cultural programmes tomorrow. The government has declared it a public holiday.
In the Kathmandu Valley, Gurung people have already started gathering in Tundikhel to celebrate the festival by taking part in cultural processions and feasting on traditional cuisines at the stalls kept there. Continue reading
KATHMANDU, DEC 17 –
People from the indigenous Kirat community celebrated Udhauli festival across the nation on Tuesday. The festival, which falls on the full moon day of the Nepali month of Mangsir, is celebrated by people of Kirat descent such as Rais, Limbus, Sunuwars and Yakhas. It is considered as a way of thanking nature for good harvest. Continue reading
KATHMANDU: Tihar, also called the festival of lights, will be celebrated from today with various rituals.The festival lasts for five days. The first day is known as Kag Tihar when crows are worshiped as the messengers of death. The second day is Kukur Tihar when dogs are worshiped as protectors of the house.The third day is famous as Gai Tihar and Laxmi Puja. On this day, cows are worshipped early in the morning. The cow is regarded as the mother and Laxmi, the goddess of wealth by Hindus. Continue Reading→
At a time the Dashain festival has gripped the country, local residents of Khokana, a rural village located around 10 km on the outskirts of Kathmandu Valley, are busy celebrating a five-day long Sikali Jatra.
The Jatra, also celebrated as an alternative to Dashain by the traditional Newari community in Khokana from the day of Ghatasthapana (the first day of the 10-day Dashain), will be concluded on Friday, also observed as Fulpati by the Hindus. Continue Reading →